editorNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Arnie Seipel delivers weather forecasts five times daily on NPR Berlin. He is also a producer for NPRs coverage of U.S. elections. Arnie previously worked as a production assistant with the promotions department at NPR, as well as the live events unit. He worked on NPRs Talk of the Nation before that. Arnies career in broadcasting began at CBS News where he was an intern for CBSNews.com. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Government and Politics in 2008.NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Arnie SeipelSun, 21 Jan 2018 18:56:05 +0000Arnie Seipelhttp://wkar.org
Arnie SeipelWhile a lot of furious negotiation has been going on behind the scenes on Capitol Hill to end a partial government shutdown, to voters and cable news viewers it may look like most of the work in Washington is going into pointing fingers. As the countdown to shutdown hit zero, an official White House statement called Democrats "obstructionist losers." Democrats pointed to President Trump's inconsistent statements on immigration to say he's an unreliable negotiating partner. But even if voters side with one party or the other, neither side may fear any lasting political damage. Republicans' approval ratings tanked after they were blamed for engineering the last government shutdown in 2013. A little more than a year later, voters delivered the GOP a Senate majority. And in the Trump era, the news cycle has only accelerated, giving crises a shorter and shorter half-life. Still, President Trump was tweeting before dawn on Saturday. "Democrats are far more concerned with Illegal ImmigrantsWho Will Carry The Blame For The Shutdown? Maybe No Onehttp://wkar.org/post/who-will-carry-blame-shutdown-maybe-no-one
113389 as http://wkar.orgSun, 21 Jan 2018 12:30:00 +0000Who Will Carry The Blame For The Shutdown? Maybe No OneArnie Seipelhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHs4WiaKDFc Updated on Dec. 22 on 12:02 p.m. ET Congressional Republicans delivered on their first major legislative accomplishment of the Trump era on Wednesday, when the House voted 224-201 to pass a $1.5 trillion tax package. The bill cuts individual rates for eight years and slashes the top corporate tax rate to 21 percent permanently. Trump signed the bill into law on Friday, hailing the legislation as "a bill for the middle class and a bill for jobs," adding that he was "very honored by it." In an event on the White House lawn Wednesday afternoon, the president, Vice President Pence and lawmakers celebrated and thanked each other for their work on the bill's passage. "I promised the American people a big, beautiful tax cut for Christmas. With final passage of this legislation, that is exactly what they are getting," Trump said in a written statement earlier in the day. "I would like to thank the members of Congress who supported this historic bill,Trump Celebrates Legislative Win After Congress Passes $1.5 Trillion Tax Cut Billhttp://wkar.org/post/gop-poised-tax-victory-after-brief-delay
112062 as http://wkar.orgWed, 20 Dec 2017 17:13:00 +0000Trump Celebrates Legislative Win After Congress Passes $1.5 Trillion Tax Cut BillArnie SeipelUpdated at 7:29 p.m. ET In making his "closing argument" for tax legislation expected to get a vote in Congress next week, President Trump announced that the changes would take effect early next year. "We're going to make our tax system work for you again," Trump said, with several families standing near him whose stories he told in his address. "We're going to make our economy work for you again. And we are going to make the American dream, and that's the real dream, that will be the dream that you want for your children and your grandchildren once again. But we need your help to get Congress across that finish line." This came just after an announcement that House and Senate GOP lawmakers have agreed on a final tax package. The details of the agreement are still being finalized, but Republicans plan to permanently cut rates for businesses and drop taxes for individuals for eight years. Negotiators have agreed to cut the tax rate for the highest-earning individuals from 39.6 to 37Trump Gives Final Tax Pitch As GOP Lawmakers Reach A Deal On A Billhttp://wkar.org/post/gop-lawmakers-agree-final-tax-package-hatch-says
111726 as http://wkar.orgWed, 13 Dec 2017 17:28:00 +0000Trump Gives Final Tax Pitch As GOP Lawmakers Reach A Deal On A BillArnie SeipelUpdated Dec. 2 at 11:57 a.m. ET The Senate narrowly approved a $1.4 trillion tax overhaul early Saturday morning following a day of procedural delays and frustration. The legislation, which would cut the top corporate tax rate to 20 percent and lower taxes for most individuals, narrowly passed in a vote of 51-49. Tennessee Republican Bob Corker was the only Republican to vote against the legislation, joining every Democrat and both independents in opposing the sweeping overhaul of the nation's tax laws. Passage of the tax bill is a significant victory for Republicans who have struggled to fulfill many key legislative promises. "It was a fantastic evening last night," President Trump said Saturday morning, according to a pool report. "Now we go onto conference, and something beautiful is going to come out of that mixer," he also said, "People are going to be very, very happy. They're going to get tremendous, tremendous tax cuts and tax relief, and that's what this country needs." TheSenate Republicans Pass Massive Tax Overhaul http://wkar.org/post/mcconnell-says-gop-has-enough-votes-pass-tax-bill-friday
111133 as http://wkar.orgFri, 01 Dec 2017 17:47:00 +0000Senate Republicans Pass Massive Tax Overhaul Arnie SeipelUpdated at 4:12 p.m. ET The Trump administration is putting North Korea back on the State Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism . President Trump says the move "supports our maximum pressure campaign to isolate this murderous regime." President Trump told reporters on Monday that the Treasury Department will officially announce additional sanctions and penalties on the North Korean regime on Tuesday. President Trump says this should have happened years ago. In fact, North Korea was on the list until 2008, when the Bush administration took it off, in an ultimately failed bid to salvage a denuclearization deal. Trump's move won praise from members of Congress, who supported legislation that paved the way for North Korea's return to the blacklist. "Over the past year alone, Kim Jong Un and his regime brazenly assassinated his brother with a chemical weapon and brutally tortured Otto Warmbier, leading directly to his tragic death," writes House Foreign Affairs Committee ChairmanTrump Designating North Korea As A State Sponsor Of Terrorism http://wkar.org/post/trump-designate-north-korea-state-sponsor-terrorism
110594 as http://wkar.orgMon, 20 Nov 2017 17:25:00 +0000Trump Designating North Korea As A State Sponsor Of Terrorism Arnie SeipelUpdated at 4:30 p.m. ET A leading Republican senator told reporters on Thursday that President Trump "has not yet been able to demonstrate the stability, nor some of the competence that he needs to demonstrate in order to be successful." Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker was at the Rotary Club of Chattanooga and spoke to local reporters there. In video posted by Chloe Morrison of Nooga.com, Corker added, "And we need for him to be successful. Our nation needs for him to be successful." Referring to the president's response to the violence that came with white supremacist demonstrations in Charlottesville, Va., last weekend, Corker said, "He also recently has not demonstrated that he understands the character of this nation. He has not demonstrated that he understands what has made this nation great and what it is today." Corker also warned that without that, "our nation is going to go through great peril" and called for "radical change" at the White House. Trump said at an impromptu newsGOP Senator: Trump Lacking 'Stability,' 'Competence' To Succeedhttp://wkar.org/post/gop-senator-trump-lacking-stability-competence-succeed
106355 as http://wkar.orgThu, 17 Aug 2017 19:37:00 +0000GOP Senator: Trump Lacking 'Stability,' 'Competence' To SucceedArnie SeipelUpdated 3:30 p.m. ET With their health care bill facing a perilous path, Senate Republican leaders have decided to push off a vote until after Congress returns from next week's July Fourth recess, GOP aides confirm to NPR's Susan Davis. "We're still working toward getting at least 50 people in a comfortable place," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday at a press conference on Capitol Hill. Despite the delay, McConnell confirmed that Republican senators were heading to the White House to meet with President Trump later in the afternoon to continue work on the issue. If three Republicans oppose the bill, it cannot pass. The GOP holds 52 seats, with Vice President Pence as a potential tiebreaker. The delay was announced with at least five Republicans indicating they were against bringing the bill to the floor this week. "Several of them want more time," McConnell said. "We have a number of different discussions going on, that have been going on for six weeks. They continue.Senate GOP Leaders Push Off Health Care Vote Until After July 4thhttp://wkar.org/post/trump-pence-lobby-senate-health-care-bill-prospects-appear-dim
103883 as http://wkar.orgTue, 27 Jun 2017 17:05:00 +0000Senate GOP Leaders Push Off Health Care Vote Until After July 4thArnie SeipelUpdated at 6:37 p.m. ET Less than a month after President Trump hired an outside lawyer to deal with inquiries related to the Russia investigations, Vice President Pence has followed suit. Pence's office confirms he has hired Richard Cullen, who served as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia during the term of George H.W. Bush and later worked on George W. Bush's legal team during the 2000 Florida recount. An aide tells NPR that the decision to hire an outside lawyer has been under consideration for weeks, and Pence decided to go forward with it earlier this week. The vice president's communications director, Jarrod Agen, said in a statement, "I can confirm that the Vice President has retained Richard Cullen of McGuire Woods to assist him in responding to inquiries by the special counsel. "The Vice President is focused entirely on his duties and promoting the President's agenda and looks forward to a swift conclusion of this matter," he added. Pence has not come under anyVice President Pence Hires Outside Lawyer To Deal With Russia Inquirieshttp://wkar.org/post/vice-president-pence-hires-outside-lawyer-deal-russia-inquiries
103323 as http://wkar.orgThu, 15 Jun 2017 22:38:00 +0000Vice President Pence Hires Outside Lawyer To Deal With Russia InquiriesArnie SeipelUpdated at 7:28 p.m. ET Former FBI director James Comey may have done more damage to Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Thursday than even President Trump, whom Comey publicly accused of waving him off part of the Russia investigation. Comey said he expected Sessions to recuse himself from the Russia investigation weeks before he did because of reasons that are classified. That does not comport with Sessions rationale when he announced his recusal in early March. Sessions has been the subject of scrutiny over his failure to disclose meetings with Russian ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 campaign, which Sessions has defended as routine — part of his duties as a U.S. senator. In his opening statement to the Senate Intelligence Committee, released on Wednesday, Comey detailed a private conversation with President Trump in the Oval Office shortly after National Security Advisor Michael Flynn was forced to resign, in which Comey recalls the president saying, "I hope youComey Testimony Raises New Questions About Jeff Sessions And Russia http://wkar.org/post/comey-testimony-raises-new-questions-about-jeff-sessions-and-russia
102959 as http://wkar.orgThu, 08 Jun 2017 23:25:00 +0000Comey Testimony Raises New Questions About Jeff Sessions And Russia Arnie Seipelhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ceCaFCG2j8 Fired FBI Director James Comey may tell the Senate Intelligence Committee next week that President Trump suggested he ease off at least part of the FBI's Russia investigation. But a month ago, he said this to the Senate Judiciary Committee: "I'm talking about a situation where we were told to stop something for a political reason, that would be a very big deal. It's not happened in my experience." Why did Comey say he has never been asked to stop an investigation for political reasons after that conversation with Trump? Some writers on the Internet, particularly Comey critics, have a couple of simple explanations — the memos are fake or he perjured himself in front of Congress. But there's more context. Here is the full exchange from the Judiciary Committee hearing, when Comey was being questioned by Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii. HIRONO: So if the attorney general or senior officials at the Department of Justice opposes a specificDid James Comey Lie About Interference In The Russia Investigation? http://wkar.org/post/did-james-comey-lie-about-interference-russia-investigation
102623 as http://wkar.orgFri, 02 Jun 2017 10:00:00 +0000Did James Comey Lie About Interference In The Russia Investigation? Arnie SeipelUpdated at 3:20 p.m. ET White House communications director Michael Dubke has resigned. Dubke offered his resignation on May 18, prior to President Trump's overseas trip to the Middle East and Europe. He is still working at the White House and has not set a departure date yet. Dubke, 47, had been a behind-the-scenes player who helped manage the White House communications strategy, including the aftermath of President Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey. Before joining the White House in February, he had been a Republican strategist and founder of Crossroads Media. In a statement, White House chief of staff Reince Priebus thanked Dubke for his service. "We appreciate Mike and are very grateful for his service to President Trump and our country," Priebus said, adding Dubke "offered to remain on board until a transition is concluded." Dubke's resignation could be the forerunner of a larger staff shake-up in the administration. Reports have circulated that Trump may bring in trustedAmid Rumors Of Staff Shake-Up, White House Communications Director Resigns http://wkar.org/post/white-house-communications-director-resigns
102452 as http://wkar.orgTue, 30 May 2017 12:57:00 +0000Amid Rumors Of Staff Shake-Up, White House Communications Director Resigns Arnie SeipelUtah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, announced that he will not run for re-election in 2018 and will not seek any public office next year. Chaffetz wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday morning, "I am healthy. I am confident I would continue to be re-elected by large margins. I have the full support of Speaker Ryan to continue as Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. That said, I have made a personal decision to return to the private sector." As oversight chairman, Chaffetz led investigations into the Secret Service and Planned Parenthood in recent years. He has faced pressure from protesters in his home district and federal watchdogs for not pursuing investigations into the Trump administration more forcefully. Chaffetz told NPR's Morning Edition in February that his committee was concerned with possible mishandling of classified information when Trump was apparently briefed on a North Korean missile test atHouse Oversight Chair Jason Chaffetz Will Not Seek Re-Electionhttp://wkar.org/post/house-oversight-chair-jason-chaffetz-will-not-seek-re-election
100524 as http://wkar.orgWed, 19 Apr 2017 16:04:00 +0000House Oversight Chair Jason Chaffetz Will Not Seek Re-ElectionArnie SeipelEditors' note Monday, 12:55 p.m. ET: Since this story was first published, we have added material from another former student and former law clerks of Gorsuch, as well as more information about Jennifer Sisk's political affiliations. On Tuesday, Gorsuch disputed the allegation himself during his confirmation hearing and explained the lesson he intended to teach. A former law student of Judge Neil Gorsuch, President Trump's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, alleges that in a course she took from Gorsuch at the University of Colorado Law School last year, the judge told his class that employers, specifically law firms, should ask women seeking jobs about their plans for having children and implied that women manipulate companies starting in the interview stage to extract maternity benefits. The concerns were shared in a letter , posted Sunday evening by the National Employment Lawyers Association and the National Women's Law Center, written by Jennifer Sisk, a 2016 graduate of theAmid Charges By Former Law Student On Gender Equality, Former Clerks Defend Gorsuchhttp://wkar.org/post/former-law-student-gorsuch-told-class-women-manipulate-maternal-leave
99175 as http://wkar.orgMon, 20 Mar 2017 05:07:00 +0000Amid Charges By Former Law Student On Gender Equality, Former Clerks Defend GorsuchArnie SeipelA handful of top Republicans are calling on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from a federal investigation into whether Russia interfered with last year's presidential election, as top Democrats call on Sessions to resign. The demands come after reports that Sessions spoke to Russia's ambassador twice last year , while Sessions was working as a top adviser and surrogate for Donald Trump's presidential campaign. The news was first reported by The Washington Post and has since been confirmed by NPR's Carrie Johnson. Sessions said during his confirmation hearings that he had no contact with Russian officials as he worked with Trump's campaign. Amid the calls for recusal and resignation, many leading Republicans are urging caution. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Republican who has been highly suspicious of possible links between the Trump campaign and Russia, told NPR's Steve Inskeep on Morning Edition, "I'm not interested in being part of a witch hunt, but I also will not be part of aRubio To NPR: No Witch Hunt On Russia, But No Cover-Up Eitherhttp://wkar.org/post/senate-minority-leader-calls-jeff-sessions-resign-attorney-general
98614 as http://wkar.orgThu, 02 Mar 2017 16:05:00 +0000Rubio To NPR: No Witch Hunt On Russia, But No Cover-Up EitherArnie SeipelFor the second time in as many days, a Senate committee's GOP leadership has bypassed a boycott by Democrats to advance President Trump's Cabinet nominees. The Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee boycotted the second meeting in a row to confirm Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead the EPA. Committee rules say that two members of the minority party must be present for a vote, but chairman John Barrasso, R-Wyo., suspended the rules so Pruitt's nomination could pass the committee with only Republican votes, and he passed 11-0. Pruitt will still need to be confirmed by the full Senate, which appears likely. A Democratic aide from the EPW committee says they recognize that the move is "allowable under Senate rules" even if it's unprecedented for the committee. Upon reconvening the committee, Barrasso said: "It is disappointing that they chose that course of action. We will not allow it to obstruct." Hearings on Trump's nominee to run the Office ofSenate Republicans Bypass Another Boycott By Democrats To Advance EPA Nomineehttp://wkar.org/post/senate-republicans-bypass-another-boycott-democrats-advance-epa-nominee
97367 as http://wkar.orgThu, 02 Feb 2017 16:42:00 +0000Senate Republicans Bypass Another Boycott By Democrats To Advance EPA NomineeArnie SeipelUpdated 1:15 p.m. ET A day after Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee boycotted votes to advance the nominations for President Trump's nominees to lead the departments of the Treasury and Health and Human Services, the panel's Republicans met in a surprise meeting Wednesday morning and voted to suspend committee rules to vote on those nominees without Democrats present. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the chairman of the Finance Committee called the Democrats' boycott "the most pathetic thing." Opening the meeting, Hatch said, "We took some unprecedented actions today due to the unprecedented obstruction on the part of our colleagues." Democrats consider the move in violation of longstanding rules on the finance committee, which require one member of each party present. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, posted a photo of empty seats in the committee room and said the Democrats were standing with people "hurt by the abusive practices of Mnuchin's bank." Democrats boycotted yesterday, sayingSenate Republicans Defy Democrats' Boycott To Advance Trump Nominees http://wkar.org/post/senate-republicans-defy-democrats-boycott-advance-trump-nominees
97303 as http://wkar.orgWed, 01 Feb 2017 16:43:00 +0000Senate Republicans Defy Democrats' Boycott To Advance Trump Nominees Arnie SeipelUpdated at 1:50 p.m. ET. Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee boycotted planned votes on Tuesday morning to advance the nominations of two Trump Cabinet nominees. The committee was to begin voting at 10 a.m. on the nominations of Georgia Rep. Tom Price to lead the Department of Health and Human Services and Treasury Secretary-designate Steven Mnuchin. Committee rules require that at least one member of each party be present for a vote to proceed. If and when the committee does vote, their confirmations would still need the approval of the full Senate. In a press briefing Tuesday afternoon, White House spokesman Sean Spicer called the Democrats' actions "outrageous." "It's unfortunate Senate Democrats remain so out of touch with the message that the American people sent this past November," Spicer told reporters. "The people want change; President Trump is delivering that change." Price has been under a cloud of controversy for weeks over questions about whether he properlySenate Democrats Block Committee Votes On 2 Trump Nomineeshttp://wkar.org/post/senate-democrats-block-committee-votes-2-trump-nominees
97255 as http://wkar.orgTue, 31 Jan 2017 17:37:00 +0000Senate Democrats Block Committee Votes On 2 Trump NomineesArnie SeipelWith little power left in Washington, Democrats set out on Sunday to make a big statement against GOP efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act with rallies in dozens of cities. It's also a step for the party toward regaining its footing after grassroots efforts in 2016 failed to keep the White House in Democrats' hands. Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats in the Senate and whose populist candidacy in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary was boosted by a strong online following and small-dollar donations, headlined the day. He was recently named to a leadership post among Senate Democrats as chairman of outreach. Sanders used his vast email list from the campaign to help organize support for Sunday's rallies in support of Obamacare, which stretched from an event led by House minority leader Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco to one featuring Sen. Elizabeth Warren in Boston. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley even led a sing-a-long at the Utah StateDemocrats Rally In Dozens Of Cities To Oppose Obamacare Repeal http://wkar.org/post/democrats-rally-dozens-cities-oppose-obamacare-repeal
96607 as http://wkar.orgMon, 16 Jan 2017 17:50:39 +0000Democrats Rally In Dozens Of Cities To Oppose Obamacare Repeal Arnie Seipelhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaVWRetR4jg President-elect Donald Trump is unabashedly praising Russian President Vladimir Putin, a day after outgoing President Obama issued tough sanctions against the country in response to alleged cyberattacks intended to influence the U.S. elections. In a tweet Friday afternoon, Trump responded to Putin's decision not to expel U.S. diplomats from Russia in kind after Obama ordered 35 Russian diplomats to leave the country — admiring the Russian leader's strategic approach over President Obama, which is the theme of Trump's ongoing praise of Putin. Earlier Friday, Putin instead signaled he would wait to decide how to move forward until Trump takes office, giving him someone in the Oval Office who has been much friendlier and quite generous with his praise — a stark break from decades of U.S. foreign policy. The Russian Embassy in the U.S. also retweeted Trump's post, which he pinned to his Twitter timeline so it would remain at the top. Trump alsoAs U.S. Confronts Russia, Trump's Admiration Of Putin Is Consistenthttp://wkar.org/post/us-confronts-russia-trumps-admiration-putin-consistent
95931 as http://wkar.orgFri, 30 Dec 2016 22:37:00 +0000As U.S. Confronts Russia, Trump's Admiration Of Putin Is ConsistentArnie SeipelBill Clinton says that out of the hundreds of thousands of donors to the Clinton Foundation over the past 18 years, there must have been some people who gave to the foundation to gain influence with him and his wife. But the former president told NPR that doesn't mean any donors received anything improperly. "It was natural for people who've been our political allies and personal friends to call and ask for things. And I trusted the State Department wouldn't do anything they shouldn't do," Clinton told Steve Inskeep in an interview broadcast Monday on Morning Edition. Clinton is kicking off the final gathering of the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, where heads of state, humanitarians, scientists and other accomplished or influential individuals come together to formulate solutions to global problems. This week's CGI meeting is the final one because of efforts to prevent further concerns about conflicts of interest between the work of the Clinton family's private charitableBill Clinton: 'It's Hard' To Think About Leaving Foundationhttp://wkar.org/post/bill-clinton-its-hard-think-about-leaving-foundation
91900 as http://wkar.orgMon, 19 Sep 2016 09:00:00 +0000Bill Clinton: 'It's Hard' To Think About Leaving Foundation